Crossbow Books

First topic message reminder :

Hey Everyone,

Thought I'd start a little topic on crossbow related books and articles.

There are some very interesting books out there and I see illustrations all over the net that have been scanned from them. I don't mind different language, be it German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, or any other for the matter of fact. If you know of one, list it here, and if possible a place where one would be able to get the book.

I have not read this one yet, but will do so in the near future...I found it online over at this website... LINK

If any one would like to add to the list, please do so. Your efforts are much appreciated.

geezer thanks for the info on that book never heard of that one ordered it tonite when i figure out how to post pics on this site i'll show some of my bows i usually just put them on ebay i have 2 on there now again thanks Joe

I think you'll like Paterson's book. There's a lot of stuff there that's also in Harmuth's book, but it's all in English and much-much cheaper. I disagree with Paterson on two very minor matters... and yes, I'm right and he's wrong, but honestly, he's not Very Wrong and the points are piddling-small anyway. He's got lots of useful drawings and diagrams, plus some very useful stuff about building bowstrings that could benefit all of us.
There are some other very good crossbow books out there: Holger Richter's book on Hornbogen Armbrust (I don't remember the full name, but that''ll get you in the ball park) is a lovely German-language source with many diagrams and photos of horn/sinew medieval bows. There's also a very nice book by Jens Sensenfelder on bows from the Royal Netherlands Museum. It has English/Dutch/German text and many pictures of crossbows with weights and dimensions that should be a help for builders. You'll also find a lot of info on crossbow bolts and other tackle that could be of use.
Of course the other members of our group should be able to provide more interesting leads for your library.
Good building/good shooting. Geezer

Hey Geezer thanks for the heads up on the Paterson book.
But seriously I have to send off and email to order it? They don't have an online order form. Odd.

Geezer here: Yup, you have to send in your order old-style... some of the older British sites are like that, despite their up-to-date internet. In fact, you can't order my stuff entirely online either. That's so I'm certain to get a paper order in hand as well as the electronic stuff.
Truth is: I'm a lousy book-keeper and paper is harder to lose... electronic records can disappear at a touch of a button, but with paper, somebody has to actually carry out the trash, which is usually quite a bone of tension around here.
Even though you're faced with the onerous duty of actually posting an order for the Paterson book, it will arrive pdq, and its got lots of useful stuff. You'll have hours of diverting entertainment and will probably end up with some useful ideas for the shop. Enjoy! Geezer

Die Hornbogenarmbrust is online at Google books http://books.google.ca/books?id=bGqxqn4b_SMC&printsec=frontcover&hl=it&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Good stuff guys, I've spent quite a few nights shuffling through the books, glad to see some new titles.

Stupid system: Double posted. Not my fault... blame the cat. Geezer

Leave the cat alone Geezer.
You can always go back and edit your posts and if it's the last post in
the chain you can go as far as even deleting it completely. Got your back old timer.

Ivo

[Admin Action: Merging Topic] ...make sure to skim through the topic again, I'm merging it with the original Books topic to keep everything handy....by the way, don't miss this post! > Link With the new Internet reform that might get through, this stuff will disappear forever, so grab all you can and make sure your antivirus is on too (just in case you decide to click a popup)

The crossbow as a modern weapon by Galen L Geer.............Thornwarbler

CROSSBOWS by Frank Bilson

Treasures of the tower CROSSBOWS

Chaz

The 'Treasures of the Tower' crossbow book is worthwhile. Bilson's crossbow book not so much so. He's terrified of metal prods, particularly aluminum alloy, and advises covering the prod with tape to avoid catastrophic failure. Hint... don't cover your prod in tape, it'll slow it way down. If you're afraid of failure, run a 1/2 in. wide strip of leather down the back.
Happy holidays all! Geezer

FIELD AND TARGET ARCHERY by Edmund Burke

Geezer, 'appreciate your input. So far I'm accumilating a small collection of crossbow information but who knows what is good or bad info., so thanks for your guidance.

Chaz

The Galen Geer book enjoys a fair reputation, though I haven't looked at it in years. By now it might be a bit dated though. Of course that's doubly true of old standbys like Payne Gallwey and even Egon Harmuth, to a degree. But then Harmuth is nearly impossible to get. I have a copy, there's useful stuff, but nothing you can't find in Alm, PG and Paterson. If you don't have Paterson's "Guide to the Crossbow" I recommend it highly. Paterson and I disagree on only about two minor points, which makes him a pretty clever fellow indeed. You should be able to get that from the book-list at Manchester University Museum (England) for about $20. It's a great deal!
Geezer

Yes, Sir I aquired Paterson's at the time you mentioned it a while back. I've very much enjoyed it.

Now waiting on the arrival of Josef Alms book, got it from a book store in Italy, price and shipping $40.00 something. the best price I could find.

Chaz

Geezer wrote:The Galen Geer book enjoys a fair reputation, though I haven't looked at it in years. By now it might be a bit dated though. Of course that's doubly true of old standbys like Payne Gallwey and even Egon Harmuth, to a degree. But then Harmuth is nearly impossible to get. I have a copy, there's useful stuff, but nothing you can't find in Alm, PG and Paterson. If you don't have Paterson's "Guide to the Crossbow" I recommend it highly. Paterson and I disagree on only about two minor points, which makes him a pretty clever fellow indeed. You should be able to get that from the book-list at Manchester University Museum (England) for about $20. It's a great deal!
Geezer

In Paterson's "Guide to the Crossbow", what are the two minor points that you disagree with?

in reseaching my planned composite medevial crossbow decided to add to my reference books..
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Art-European-Crossbows-1250-1850/dp/0300197047
arrived yesterday,, while not heavy on construction methods, it should be a must have,, exspecially at the price,, excellent overall photos and detail photos, measurements and descriptions. three xrays of lock mechs that also show details of the nut and box features..

Look online for crossbow books by Holger Richter.  There are a number of titles, all of them full of excellent photos.  Text is usually all German, with short precis of each chapter in English, but even if you a monoglot reader like me, the pics and diagrams are easily worth the money.  Geezer.

I have a copy of Die Hornbogenarmbrust (two semesters of german way back) setting the two books side by side they compliment each other very well,very good 30.00 investment.. I have a copy of  "Crossbows in the Royal Netherlands Army Museum"(it's coming from Ashville NC to Raleigh NC via Miami FL, USPS go figure)  on its way, abebooks had a copy at a decent price.. should be able to narrow down the bow I wanted to build 10 years back..

Yes, the Crossbows of the Royal Netherlands Army Museum is well worthwhile.  Good pictures, clear text, and they even give dimensions that will help you in scaling your reproductions. Geezer.

"Crossbows" (from 35 years with the weapon) by George. M. Stevens is a great 20thC read